Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2024. Read them in this 16th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
What to Expect from AI
By Rupert Colbourne, CTO Orbus Software
One certainty for 2024 is that the interest in all things AI will continue unabated. However, organizations should take a pragmatic approach as they evaluate how to integrate intelligent solutions and where they will benefit. As the year progresses, the AI winners and losers will start to emerge, which will help guide companies on their automation journey. Below are five predictions related to the continued adoption of intelligent technologies.
1. Why Slow and Steady Will Win the AI Race
Being a trailblazer with AI is not the best path forward. With the myriad of challenges, spanning regulation, security, bias, ethics, data privacy, ownership, and authenticity concerns, rushing to adopt AI may cause more problems than it solves. However, standing pat is not the answer. Therefore, until there is some clarity and consensus on these issues, a more measured approach to adoption will reap the benefits instead of diving in.
2. AI Arms Race Continues
The thirst for more resources to power LLMs will remain unquenched in 2024. This will drive hyper scalers to source more GPUs and compute time from other hyper scalers as they race to train their models. Over time, this growing demand will become a significant problem limiting the potential of LLM and AI apps.
3. IT Skills Shift up With AI
As AI is increasingly adopted, it will affect what human skills are in demand. For IT teams, deep technical knowledge will no longer be as critical or desirable as machines take on tasks such as code creation and problem-solving. To be successful in IT in the automation era will require a data scientist skillset and the ability to get the most out of generative AI. Ultimately, as automation continues to advance, the CIO of the future will be hybrid, part human, part machine!
4. AI Bots Need to be Policed by AI Bots
Security concerns are growing around AI-enabled systems. Due to the complexity and self-learning capabilities, AI will be the only path to police these intelligent systems. This will upend the established security market, and machine versus machine will become the new reality.
5. Co-pilots Become BFFs with Product Teams
Co-pilots will take on an increasingly important role in helping product teams with conceptual problem-solving. Co-pilots will review and inspect user stories, design choices, and code written to solve a problem. As it learns, the co-pilot will accumulate an extensive library of solutions shortening the agile lifecycle. It will become a best practice engine for the product and engineering team, helping guide them to a solution without wasting precious time and money exploring a multitude of avenues, as happens currently. This streamlining of the SDLC will accelerate the delivery of high-quality software and applications.
It doesn’t require a crystal ball to know that AI adoption and automation will continue. However, organizations must be mindful of the areas outlined and take steps to ensure that they are an AI winner rather than a loser.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rupert Colbourne has been with Orbus Software since its founding, driving the ongoing vision and delivery of the product portfolio to meet the increasing demands of enterprise-scale transformation. Over the last 15-plus years, he has pioneered Orbus’ unique development approach: leveraging the Microsoft technology stack to provide familiar, easy-to-use tools that deliver maximum ROI for customers.
